Yahvi Duggal
Yahvi Duggal on turning kitchen waste into hand-woven textiles
Growing up in India, care for materials was part of Yahvi’s daily life. From that principle, she’s built a practice transforming discarded materials like kitchen waste into naturally-dyed textile weavings. “A big part of my work is inviting people to slow down and notice the potential within everyday materials,” Yahvi tells us. But it was curiosity and adaptability, rather than certainty, that led Yahvi to her sustainable craft practice. She explores how she makes it work as an artist below.
What I do
My creative practice
I’m a textile artist who works with materials most people overlook. Many of my materials begin in kitchens rather than art shops. I collect things like banana peels, onion skins, eggshells and avocado pits and transform them into dyes, clays and woven textiles. I work mainly with hand looms, where these materials slowly become part of a woven surface. Alongside my studio practice, I also run workshops where people learn to weave, make bio yarns and use natural dye methods. A big part of my work is inviting people to slow down and notice the potential within everyday materials.
Influences and inspiration
I grew up in India, where care for materials was simply part of daily life. Leftover peels became drinks, old fabrics were turned into quilts and very little was wasted. Those quiet domestic rituals shaped the way I think about making today. Kitchens continue to inspire me because they are spaces where transformation happens constantly. I’m also deeply inspired by traditional craft practices where patience, labour and attention are valued.
“Making can be both a personal and collective experience.”
My training
I studied Textile Design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi and later completed an MA in Textiles at the Royal College of Art in London. That training gave me a strong technical foundation in various textile processes and material exploration, but working with organic and unconventional materials means things rarely behave as expected. Curiosity, patience and adaptability have become essential. I’ve also learned a great deal through teaching workshops. Sharing processes with others often opens up new ways of thinking about the materials and reminds me that making can be both a personal and collective experience.
Favourite recent project
One of my favourite recent projects was my residency with Dazed magazine in collaboration with Mason & Fifth. During the residency, I collected kitchen waste from Mason & Fifth’s restaurant, Canal, and transformed it into dyes, clays and fibres. Each day the kitchen would set aside things like onion peels, avocado pits and corn husks. I dyed yarns with them and slowly wove pieces that responded to what arrived each day. The work developed alongside the rhythm of the kitchen and the conversations happening around it. It felt meaningful because the materials, the space and the people all became part of the making.
A day in the life
Most days begin quietly. Sometimes I start by collecting materials from cafés or kitchens, other times by preparing natural dyes or drying plant materials. A large part of the day is spent weaving slowly at the loom. Because the work grows thread by thread, it encourages patience and attention. I also spend time preparing or teaching workshops where people explore weaving or natural dyes using everyday materials. Those sessions are often full of curiosity and small moments of discovery. And of course there is the practical side of things like writing emails, planning exhibitions and documenting the work.
A starter pack for my job:
Curiosity; patience; care. All sorts of waste: fibres, yarns, peels, crisp packets.
“I had no idea those experiments would eventually lead to a full-time practice.”
How I got here
Starting my creative journey
Haha! It was full of experiments and only experiments. I didn’t really have a clear plan at the beginning; I was simply curious about materials and kept trying different things. I had no idea those experiments would eventually lead to a full-time practice.
During my time at the Royal College of Art I met Barbara Chandler, the founder of GREEN GRADS, an initiative platforming UK graduates with ideas to heal the planet. Soon after graduating, she offered me a platform to exhibit my work, which really helped to build my confidence and put my work out there. Slowly, I started getting more workshops and exhibitions, and last year I completed my first residency. It wasn’t easy, but I genuinely enjoy the process and connecting with people through my work.
Landing my first few jobs, clients and/or commissions
At the beginning I was sending applications constantly. Some worked out and many didn’t. I also volunteered to run a few sessions at Battersea Library and through GREEN GRADS – that ended up changing things quite a bit. It helped me gain real experience, which strengthened my applications. Soon after that people started approaching me directly. Some found my work through exhibitions and reached out for commissions, while others discovered my workshops through newsletters or social media. Workshops now play an important role in supporting my practice.
Biggest challenges along the way
One of the biggest challenges is simply balancing everything. A lot of time is spent approaching people, writing applications and putting yourself out there. At the same time, you’re trying to actually make the work. Being an artist often means being a one-person team. You’re the maker, the administrator, the marketer and the organiser all at once. Learning how to manage those different roles while still finding time for making has definitely been one of the biggest ongoing challenges.
My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
I really enjoy sharing the process behind my work. When people see how materials transform, it invites them into the process and helps them understand the work more deeply. It also spreads awareness about the ideas behind the practice. For me, social media works best when it feels honest and curious rather than overly polished.
Three things I've found useful in my career:
- Creative Juice podcast has been really interesting for understanding how the creative industry functions. It talks a lot about collaborations, pricing work, and navigating creative careers.
- Travelling and experiencing craft traditions has also been incredibly important. Meeting artists and artisans and seeing how they work always expands my perspective.
- Being a part of GREEN GRADS – it’s a platform that celebrates the projects of recent graduates working towards sustainability. I’ve gotten many opportunities through them and found a community of artists and designers who are extremely supportive.
“Start by experimenting with what you already have around you. Many materials and ideas are more accessible than we realise.”
Courses, programmes, initiatives, access schemes or job boards I've found helpful
Residencies have been incredibly helpful. They create space to connect with other artists, learn about different practices and build meaningful networks. The Starving Artist platform is a great source for opportunities and open calls. The Crafts Council and Young Craft Citizens programme have also been really supportive spaces for emerging makers and have helped me create connections within the craft community.
My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative:
Taking supplementary work can be very helpful, especially in the early stages. This could be assisting artists in studios, working in galleries or teaching workshops. In my case, teaching and delivering workshops helped me support myself financially while also expanding my practice. Over time those workshops became an important part of my work rather than just something I did on the side.
My advice
My most useful career tips
Don’t stop practicing. Keep learning, making and showing your work, even if it’s something small. Also, think about ways your practice can extend into other areas: teaching, assisting other artists or developing programmes can all support your work while keeping you connected to your field. And don't forget to insure your work!
What I'd say to someone looking to get into a similar role
Start by experimenting with what you already have around you. Many materials and ideas are more accessible than we realise. There are also so many free resources, blogs and tutorials available online that people often overlook. Curiosity and experimentation are the best starting points.